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Serological cross-reaction between Legionella pneumophila and Campylobacter in the indirect fluorescent antibody test

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

T. C. J. Boswell  and
G. Kudesia
T. C. J. Boswell
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK
G. Kudesia
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK
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Summary

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Sera from 50 patients with culture-proven Campylobacter gastroenteritis were examined for the presence of antibodies to Legionella pneumophila. Ten patients (20%) had a positive titre (≥16) as measured by indirect immunofluorescence. Antibodies were detected in only 1 of 36 acute sera but in 10 of 14 (71%) sera obtained more than 10 days after the onset of symptoms. All positive sera contained specific IgM antibodies but specific IgG or IgA could not be detected in any sample. No legionella antibodies could be detected in sera from 42 similar patients with salmonella gastroenteritis. These results were shown to be due to serological cross-reaction between L. pneumophila and Campylobacter.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 109 , Issue 2 , October 1992 , pp. 291 - 295
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

References

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